Lunchbox Goodies Round Up
Can you believe a new school year is already approaching? With that comes simultaneous joy (for all the newness that a new year offers!) but also dread for the upcoming shifts to our routine. Transitions can be hard! Especially the transition from summer to fall.
Switching our minds back to our regularly scheduled programming can feel like a bit of a challenge. Things like extra curricular activities, after-school care, and of course, the elusive practice of meal-prepping. It's all a bit of a juggling act. Luckily, we can help.
We know lots of folks struggle with lunch-time ideas, and we've got lots of healthy, nutritious, quick, and easy recipes to help fuel growing bodies and minds. Some are from us here at Sparkle, but we've sourced some great ideas from amazing food bloggers, too.
First things first: here at Sparkle, we're big on bento-style lunchboxes. With lots of compartments, they are a great way to offer a number of different options, and we know kids love options. They also provide a bit of insurance: just in case your kids don't like something you've packed, there are other nutritious options built in. Also, if they're anything like my kid, they don't like their foods to touch! You can start with the Yummy Toddler Food blog's post about Easy Bento Lunch Box Ideas to get the creative juices flowing! Tons of great ideas in there.
Now, let's get to it. Here are 10 delicious and nutritious lunchbox ideas:
Pizza Spirals
These are super-simple to prep, a good source of protein for energy, and sure to get gobbled up! This recipe is modeled after Hawaiian pizza, but you could certainly sub a handful of vegan sausage for the ham or maybe pesto sauce instead of tomato.
Learn now to make them here.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Have a picky eater that isn't big on vegetables? Well, we have a sneaky way that you can incorporate some veggies into their diet that's sure to please. Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese! Because of its golden color and creamy texture, butternut squash naturally camouflages itself as cheese sauce for macaroni and cheese. All you need is a portable thermos and your kid will be all set!
Learn how to make this delicious (and nutritious!) lunch here.
Teeny the Toadlet Sandwich Stacker
Inspired by our original Sparkle Sleepytime audio story “Teeny the Toadlet”, this adorable little sandwich idea is sure to delight. A spinach tortilla wrap does most of the work for you — just by being green — and you can customize the filling to suit your child's favorites.
Learn how to craft your own Toadlet Sandwich here.
Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets
Have a chicken-nugget lover in your home? Try this much healthier and highly nutritious option from the Healthy Little Foodies. Bonus: "These are gluten-free, dairy-free, kid-friendly, and packed with protein!" A great option for families with kiddos who have a gluten or dairy intolerance.
Find the full recipe for Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets on the Healthy Little Foodies website here.
Cheesy Crackers
Switching our brains to back-to-school means fueling our minds too! And there’s no school snack that’s more quintessentially back-to-school than cheesy crackers. Cheesy crackers are also easy to make at home. These homemade crackers have fewer preservatives than your typical store-bought version and, by making them yourself, you can also season them however you like.
Learn how to make homemade Cheesy Crackers here.
Fruit Leathers
What's a more iconic lunchtime snack than a "Fruit Rollup"? These homemade fruit leathers are a far more nutritious option (and preservative free) but just as delicious to eat and a great way to add some fruit into your kiddo's diet.
Learn how to make homemade Fruit Leathers here.
Collard Green Chips
In my house, our kids are huge kale chip aficionados. These Collard Green Chips are delicious and a great way to add some vitamin A and vitamin C into your kids' diet.
Find the full recipe here.
Hummus: Middle Eastern Style!
Garlicky, delicious, and packed with protein — who doesn't love hummus? It's a great way to entice littles to eat their veggies. You can make this in bulk at the beginning of the week and add to their lunches with an assortment of fresh cut veg for a mini crudité-style snack to fuel learning minds!
Make some middle eastern hummus here.
Ladybugs
Everyone likes a sweet treat in their lunch and these little strawberry and chocolate "Ladybugs" are equal-parts cute and delectable! Your kids will be so tickled to see them in their lunchboxes. BONUS: They're super-simple to make and they pack an adorable punch!
Learn how to make them here.
Gluten-Free Muffins with Blueberries and Avocado
If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that kids love a muffin... and these gluten-free, dairy-free muffins from 40 Aprons are also chock-full of blueberries and avocado for added nutritional benefit. A great back-to-school lunchtime snack idea!
Check out the full recipe on the 40 Aprons site here.
We hope this helps! If you're looking for more recipe inspiration, you can visit the Sparkle Stories Blog and select the category 'Sparkle Kitchen' for tons of great lunch, dinner, breakfast, snack ideas... and more!
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About the Author
Trish Montle
Trish is a social media manager, creator, copywriter, and mother of two small humans and three fur-babies. She lives in Collingwood, Ontario (Canada) surrounded by the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains and Georgian Bay.
